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3.8 AVERAGE
3.8 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This ended up being a tearjerker, but in a not totally horrible way. It was different from the other Greg Howard books i’ve read i that it was more serious and emotional. I’m not sorry about reading it, and you shouldn’t be either.
Un roman ușurel pentru adolescenți, dar care atinge o temă foarte importantă despre care nu se prea discută deschis nici măcar între adulți. Adevărul este că e greu să numești tema dacă cei din jur trec prin așa ceva la vârsta respectivă.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I did feel like it was a little slow moving, and I was concerned at where the homophobic attitudes were leading, but they resolved nicely. The resolution made me cry, which I wasn't expecting.
Adventure story about a young boy who the believe that the magical 'Whispers' can tell him where his mum is. As the story unfolds we, the reader begin to understand what has happened and the truth of his mother's illness which is mirrored by his dog's illness. The young boy is also gay and is quite happy with this but realises that not everyone is and I found the acceptance he receives at the end also moving. A sweet children's book.
5 stars!
TW: homophobia, death, child abuse (physical), alcoholism (mentioned), drug abuse
This book gets a 5 star rating from me simply because I cannot think of anything I think could have or should have been done differently. The writing style was impressive and moved the story at a good pace. This was a middle grade novel that did not feel like it was "dumbing things down" for younger readers, in fact, like the main character, it focused on using a larger vocabulary and talking plainly.
The characters are all so real. It is very easy to imagine and picture each of them, from the unlikeable Sister Grimes to Tucker everyone's favorite family dog.
This is a story about loss and acceptance, which is a very painful process and was treated well and presumably accurately. When Riley's mom goes missing, and it feels like he is the only one still looking for her, he becomes determined to seek out the only thing that can help him find her and bring her home now, The Whispers. The book opens with the story of the Whispers just as Mama told it to Riley before bed many nights when he was younger. We then watch Riley in his everyday life and eventually on his search for the Whispers.
I recommend this book to fans of Patrick Ness as I found Greg Howard's style to be quite similar and easy to read. I think this is one of those middle grade books that is good for both children and adults alike, which I think speaks to its value.
TW: homophobia, death, child abuse (physical), alcoholism (mentioned), drug abuse
This book gets a 5 star rating from me simply because I cannot think of anything I think could have or should have been done differently. The writing style was impressive and moved the story at a good pace. This was a middle grade novel that did not feel like it was "dumbing things down" for younger readers, in fact, like the main character, it focused on using a larger vocabulary and talking plainly.
The characters are all so real. It is very easy to imagine and picture each of them, from the unlikeable Sister Grimes to Tucker everyone's favorite family dog.
This is a story about loss and acceptance, which is a very painful process and was treated well and presumably accurately. When Riley's mom goes missing, and it feels like he is the only one still looking for her, he becomes determined to seek out the only thing that can help him find her and bring her home now, The Whispers. The book opens with the story of the Whispers just as Mama told it to Riley before bed many nights when he was younger. We then watch Riley in his everyday life and eventually on his search for the Whispers.
I recommend this book to fans of Patrick Ness as I found Greg Howard's style to be quite similar and easy to read. I think this is one of those middle grade books that is good for both children and adults alike, which I think speaks to its value.
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I literally love this book with my whole being. I read it in fifth grade and have reread it many times since. It is such a good book to curl up in a blanket and just read. I also love to reread it once I’m starting to get bored of a book and need a break. I cry every time I read this book. It is definitely a middle grade book but such a cozy read that even after you’re out of the age range it will still have its effect on you.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Animal death, Homophobia
It was really cute. I don't think my life was changed by reading it, but I can definitely see how a child could have their life changed by reading this book at the right time :)
Rated 3.5 Stars:
I was hesitant and nervous to read this book because it had some mixed reviews, the mixed referring to some bad things happening to children.. They weren't wrong, there were a couple. One implied. This is not a book that has real magic as implied by the overall introduction, but Howard writes this well. This is not a book for grade schoolers. If it is, they're much more desensitized than I remember being. I'd rate this book as teen because of the content, though he does write an eleven year old voice well. The unsolved case of Peetie Munn irked me, but it wasn't the point.
This book was very up and down. I was unsure, intrigued, creeped out, brought to tears/almost cried three times, loved Tucker the dog, hated Sister Grimes, was proud of/really liked Dylan, was sad, a bit happy, and then relieved. I stayed up til 2:30 in the morning to finish this book in one read. I don't doubt that this book will be banned someday, though it just came out last month. I won't be surprised if it is already. This book is going to create a lot of conversation, especially as Riley, is struggling with his 'condition' of being gay. I thought that was beautifully written and will be quite helpful for some, as was the line about God 'being-color blind'. There's strong religious overtures in this book (as it's written in the South), a smidge of racism, and a plus a word-a-day theme that weaves well into the story. It's rare I find myself aligned with a 'villain', but I found myself agreeing with the hobgoblin Mordecai in this one, about the world and how he doesn't care much for how people treat each other.
The Whispers is full of grief, perspective and imagination, and gentle hope/hard reality beats them all in the end.
Overall, I was uncomfortable. But that just means this is a growing book and that Howard has done pretty much everything..right. It's like eating a vegetable you don't like. Bad texture, but super good for you.
Who knows, I may have some heart/head protecting memories that I'll unlock someday.
This may be the most powerful book I read this year.
I was hesitant and nervous to read this book because it had some mixed reviews, the mixed referring to some bad things happening to children.. They weren't wrong, there were a couple. One implied. This is not a book that has real magic as implied by the overall introduction, but Howard writes this well. This is not a book for grade schoolers. If it is, they're much more desensitized than I remember being. I'd rate this book as teen because of the content, though he does write an eleven year old voice well. The unsolved case of Peetie Munn irked me, but it wasn't the point.
This book was very up and down. I was unsure, intrigued, creeped out, brought to tears/almost cried three times, loved Tucker the dog, hated Sister Grimes, was proud of/really liked Dylan, was sad, a bit happy, and then relieved. I stayed up til 2:30 in the morning to finish this book in one read. I don't doubt that this book will be banned someday, though it just came out last month. I won't be surprised if it is already. This book is going to create a lot of conversation, especially as Riley, is struggling with his 'condition' of being gay. I thought that was beautifully written and will be quite helpful for some, as was the line about God 'being-color blind'. There's strong religious overtures in this book (as it's written in the South), a smidge of racism, and a plus a word-a-day theme that weaves well into the story. It's rare I find myself aligned with a 'villain', but I found myself agreeing with the hobgoblin Mordecai in this one, about the world and how he doesn't care much for how people treat each other.
The Whispers is full of grief, perspective and imagination, and gentle hope/hard reality beats them all in the end.
Overall, I was uncomfortable. But that just means this is a growing book and that Howard has done pretty much everything..right. It's like eating a vegetable you don't like. Bad texture, but super good for you.
Who knows, I may have some heart/head protecting memories that I'll unlock someday.
This may be the most powerful book I read this year.
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
